Reviews

Fox & I by Catherine Raven

arrowleaf's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

It's been a long time since I was moved to write down quotes from a book. 

chaosbooked's review against another edition

Decided to listen to this on audio. It was very slow. After reading reviews it gets better after another 25 pages but I don't know if it would be worth it. Maybe I'll pick up the book at my end point and try again.

minislibrary's review against another edition

4.0

I give this a 3.5/5 stars but rounded up because it was an overall good read. Memoirs are my niche personally but I love the direction that Catherine Raven took. It was a rough start for me and the first 50 pages were honestly a drag for me. I just had to keep reminding myself that this memoir was written by someone with a doctorate in biology, so of course there were going to be a lot of biological background and references.

I’m already an animal lover but I loved that thought provoking idea she has throughout the book: why do we as human always try to dehumanize wildlife animals? Most people would categorize their household pets as family or even their own children (I am guilty of that). When it comes to wildlife, its a different story.

Raven’s relationship with the Fox was an endearing one. Their friendship was built on trust and no communication, which, in itself, is a beautiful concept. This dynamic changed my outlook on how I view animals. If everyone had a friendship like Raven and the Fox, I feel like the world would be a little bit more bearable to live in.

I recommend this book to anyone who doesn’t mind a slow paced journey and to anyone who likes educational bits and pieces while reading.

Pro tip: try reading this on a sunny day in a quiet park or riverbank.

theblondpanda's review

adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.0

kc_alex's review against another edition

Didn’t finish in time before my library hold ended and I’m not sad enough about it to re-borrow. Narrator was weird and un-likeable.

wanderlustaxa's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

3.5

It was beautiful but at times a tad slow and repetitive. But the language was lovely. 

sarahelem's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

I related to the main character a bit, and I also loved the nature (and by extension, fox behavior) covered in this book. Toward the end, it waxes poetic, but certainly not in a bad way. I agree with the review on the front cover. This is quite Thoreau-esque in nature, but from the POV of a brilliant woman who has a deep relationship with animals and the wild.

I wasn't ready for my heart to be torn out at the end of the book. For me, wildfires are triggering, as I've lived and worked right next to one before as well, which I saw consume hundreds of acres of national forest. As someone who usually connects better with animals and nature over people and their expectations, I felt very drawn to Fox and the magpie, and I felt their loss deep in my gut.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Grief

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Abandonment, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Colonisation

sfox26's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

2.5

thejigglerreads's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

knasentjej's review against another edition

Det tog 19 % att inse att jag inte har den blekaste aning om vad jag har lyssnat på.
Det är inget som fastnar eller som jag fastnar för.

Även denna gång ger jag upp boken.